JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville developer is planning a major new riverfront project on the Southbank that could bring two towers, a luxury hotel, waterfront dining, a marina, a grocery store, and retail space to the site of Duval County Public Schools’ current headquarters.
The project, called Seaport at St. Johns, is planned for 1701 Prudential Drive, where the Duval County School Board has been located for years.
As DCPS prepares to leave the riverfront property, Ashco Centers says it wants to transform the site into what Vice President of Leasing and Acquisitions Tiffany Ashurian called “Jacksonville’s Riviera.”
The plans call for two large towers with high-end residences and a luxury hotel. The development would also include waterfront dining, a marina, a grocery store, and 110,000 square feet of retail space.
“Think about people coming in on their boats, parking, getting to go get a bite to eat, residents building on this community, people being able to have another grocery option here, and then nighttime, beautiful views,” Ashurian said.
Ashco Centers, the developer behind the San Marco train station project, says it can finance the Southbank project, but it is still looking for investors.
One project representative said the company is still in the due diligence phase and noted that the building is still fully occupied.
Duval County Public Schools sold its Southbank headquarters for $15.1 million. The sale may not close for another three years while DCPS finds a new headquarters.
Action News Jax asked whether Ashco is working with the Downtown Investment Authority as it moves forward with the plans.
“We understand that DIA has certain goals for what they want the downtown Southbank to look like,” Litsa Dawkins, Director of Community Engagement at Ashco Centers, said. “So we want to make sure that our project is compatible with the future of the Southbank and what the city wants.”
Ashurian also said, “I think the timing is now.”
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